On the bumper idea - I've been thinking of similar possibilities for a while, and the Voile toepiece they use with their splitboard rigs and now their TTS binding seems to be the one to use - but my concept I think is different, in that all I am thinking the bumper would do is just give you that lit...

Smile pates will definitely do the deed if your pins have carved channels out to the toe as you describe. Back in the day I installed a few pair; I worked in a ski shop and I built a router jig for it. clamp the boot in, and one pass with the router left a perfect smile at just the right depth. If t...

Anybody know if the Skarvets run same as the Guards? if so, then one could order Skarvets from REI for fit, then return them and order same size Guards from overseas.

Smile pates work when you have enlarged holes /chewed up rubber around the holes. But if you have a tear across through all three holes, I doubt they are going to help. Your description sounds lke that might be what you have?

Licliffy - thanks and whatsize US mens are you usually?

Can anyone comment on Alpina vs Alfa sizing? I have no way of trying either on without ordering them, and in looking at various boots I noticed that on the REI site they have size charts to convert from EU to Us shoe sizes, and for the Alfas the chart says a 45EU is a 12.5 US mens, while for the Alp...

Aw shucks. I'm 11 1/2 or 12 in most things, so probably too small.

what Us mens show size would you say these 45's would be? And/or mondo point?

Wait, I think I missed something - you mean there was a time when tele was mainstream? Shoot, I miss out on all the cool trends.

Snowmobile tracks are just a bear to ski downhill on unless it is the perfect gentle gradient that lets you just glide along without needing to control your speed, inwhich case it's heaven. When its a bit steeper and some braking is needed i have found that the only thing that worked for me was a na...